Ricky Ponting vs James Anderson

[PlayerComparisons]

Two geniuses

 

[sledger]

One defied age by playing at the top level into his forties. The other defied age by looking like a small schoolboy into his forties.

 

[kyear2]

Not remotely close. easily Punter

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Not close.

Anderson vs Clarke perhaps about right

 

[Johan]

Not close.

Anderson vs Clarke perhaps about right

Clarke is losing to Broad

OT - Punter.

 

[sayon basak]

I voted that its close but it's actually not. People who voted for Anderson are joking obviously.

 

[Coronis]

I’d say Anderson is more equivalent to Cook/Shiv/Mahela.

Maybe a bit ahead, but I couldn’t think of others in the 10000 club I’d rate close to him.

Somwhere in between Younis/Root and Cook/Shiv/Mahela

 

[capt_Luffy]

I voted that its close but it's actually not. People who voted for Anderson are joking obviously.

So voting for him over Dravid is fine, but Ponting is joking????

 

[BazBall21]

Anderson equivalent to Mahela? Jayawardene was almost a no show outside the subcontinent. Anderson wasn't outstanding overseas but he was very good away for two thirds of his career (13 years which is a long career itself for a seamer). These narratives are getting OTT now and I'm not even a particularly big Anderson fan.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Coronis said in between Younis/Root and Cook/Mahela. Not an unreasonable opinion although I rate Jimmy a bit higher than that.

 

[BazBall21]

Even roughly equivalent is untrue when Anderson is so far ahead overseas and accounting for bowlers being slightly more valuable than batsmen. I think the English media's relentless fawning and inflated status projection has led to some excessively cynical views on JA round here.

I would rate Anderson above 4 members of the 10k club. Chanderpaul; Younis; Cook; Jayawardene.

 

[Coronis]

Even roughly equivalent is untrue when Anderson is so far ahead overseas and accounting for bowlers being slightly more valuable than batsmen. I think the English media's relentless fawning and inflated status projection has led to some excessively cynical views on JA round here.

I would rate Anderson above 4 members of the 10k club. Chanderpaul; Younis; Cook; Jayawardene.

Anderson averages 30 away.

Jayawardene averages 40 away.

I’d say both are pretty equivalent.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

I’d say Anderson is probably equivalent to guys like Younis and Boycott

 

[BazBall21]

Anderson averages 30 away.

Jayawardene averages 40 away.

I’d say both are pretty equivalent.

13 years is a long career for a seamer and Anderson took 214 wickets @ 26 overseas in that time. Even better in the last 9 years of his career too. Good-very good tours everywhere and was particularly consistent in Asia. Jayawardene was poor-very poor outside the subcontinent throughout his career.

 

[capt_Luffy]

I’d say Anderson is probably equivalent to guys like Younis and Boycott

I don't think it's unreasonable at all to place him ahead of Dravid, Ponting or Waugh.

 

[Coronis]

13 years is a long career for a seamer and Anderson took 214 wickets @ 26 in that time. Good-very good tours everywhere and was particularly consistent in Asia. Jayawardene was very poor outside the subcontinent and never really improved that at any stage of his career.

You can conveniently snip anyone’s career to make them look better, and I’m sick of people doing it for specific players

 

[PlayerComparisons]

I don't think it's unreasonable at all to place him ahead of Dravid, Ponting or Waugh.

Ponting and Waugh were a level above Jimmy imo. Not sure about Dravid who I find very tough to rate.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Ponting and Waugh were a level above Jimmy imo. Not sure about Dravid who I find very tough to rate.

Dravid was on the same level as Ponting and Waugh. Anderson's longevity as a pacer is definitely a world changer.

 

[capt_Luffy]

You can conveniently snip anyone’s career to make them look better, and I’m sick of people doing it for specific players

Had Anderson has a 13 years career at this rate, I would understand rating Jayawardene his equal. 20 years for a pacer is bonkers longevity.

 

[BazBall21]

You can conveniently snip anyone’s career to make them look better, and I’m sick of people doing it for specific players

No, I don't do it for specific players. I have argued similar logic when we had a discussion on Rahul Dravid v Ken Barrington. We clearly just fundamentally disagree on how longevity should be conveyed for all players. And 13 years is not conveniently snipping careers because it's a significantly long career length for a seamer and also valid context that Anderson was good-very good overseas for an extremely long period of time while Jayawardene was poor outside the subcontinent throughout his career.